50 Contemporary Evolution. 



States-General, he had come to be regarded by an in- 

 fluential part of the nation as merely its representative, 

 and " divine right," so far as recognised at all, had passed 

 to the nation as a whole. Nevertheless, the old laws 

 continuing still, gave him power over the consciences of 

 his subjects in the form of State control of the French 

 Church. 



When the sovereignty of the French people through 

 representatives or those who asserted themselves to be 

 the representatives of such representatives succeeded to 

 the royal power in the state, they not unnaturally 

 assumed and exaggerated that ecclesiastical supremacy 

 which had been conceded to the monarch, and the "civil 

 constitution of the clergy" was the result. Thus the 

 singular anomaly presented itself of one section of citizens 

 claiming to dispose of the consciences of their fellow- 

 citizens by imposing what was in fact a new State religion 

 in the name of liberty. 



It is plain then that the diminution and destruction 

 of the royal power, instead of reversing the current 

 which had accompanied its augmentation, actually in- 

 tensified it. 



Still, as long as any profession of religion remained, 

 there was always at least a nominal and professed respect 

 for liberty and conscience ; but it is interesting to note 

 that the extreme of intolerance and persecution attended 

 the proclaimed atheism of Hebert and the Commune. 



